Rangers’ Matt Puempel out indefinitely with concussion symptoms

Matt Puempel recorded a hat trick on Thursday against the Coyotes. (D Stivason/CSM/REX/Shutterstock/D Stivason/CSM/REX/Shutterstock)

Matt Puempel is out indefinitely after the Rangers winger began experiencing concussion symptoms during Monday's practice. Puempel took a high hit from Colorado's Cody McLeod at 3:59 of the second period Saturday night.

Puempel left the game to go through concussion protocol and passed, returning in the middle of the second period. Alain Vigneault said Puempel was fine until about the last 10 minutes of Monday's practice and is now in concussion protocol. Nicklas Jensen was called up from AHL Hartford on Monday and was set to take Puempel's place for Tuesday night's home game against the Sabres.

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The 23-year-old Puempel, who was claimed off waivers from Ottawa on Nov. 21 and netted his first career hat trick on Thursday against the Coyotes, suffered a concussion on Dec. 6 after a high hit by the Islanders' Brock Nelson. He missed five games before returning on Dec. 17 against Nashville.

All three of Puempel's goals in that win over Arizona came on the power play. Vigneault said J.T. Miller will go back onto the second power-play unit with Puempel out. The coach was complimentary of Miller's game after last Tuesday against the Senators starting Miller on the fourth line.

"(Puempel) did a real good job for us as far as net-front and screening the goaltenders and getting available down low," Vigneault said. "So (Tuesday) we're gonna put J.T. in his spot. I think J.T. the last few games here has responded real well, so he's gonna get an opportunity to get a little more ice time and hopefully he'll do a good job for us."

Jensen was up for four games last month after Rick Nash sustained the first of his two groin injuries on Dec. 6. Jensen didn't record a point during that stretch but earned power-play minutes and has been playing well for Hartford, producing 24 points (14 goals and 10 assists) in 29 games.

Nash continued to work his way back from the second groin injury on Monday, skating as an extra defenseman in practice. He missed his sixth straight game Tuesday and his 10th in the last 13 games, but it remains possible Nash returns before the Rangers begin their five-day bye week on Sunday. They have a Saturday road matchup against the Blue Jackets, who entering Tuesday night were on 15-game winning streak and led the NHL with 56 points.

Puempel lengthens the injury list, but the Rangers are creeping toward becoming whole again with Nash's imminent return and the possibility that Mika Zibanejad (broken left fibula) and rookie Pavel Buchnevich (back) could return not long after the bye week. Buchnevich is close to being cleared for contact and Zibanejad started skating in pads on Monday.

Active players are completely off during the bye week until 4 p.m. of the last day, which for the Rangers is next Thursday. Players on injured reserve like Zibanejad and Buchnevich can continue to rehab, but without coaches being on the ice.